2 comments:

From a 30+ year career as an engineer, I can tell you that the speed is considerably more than your " ... 5 mph" title. I would estimate that the actual speed was 15 -20 mph. Since that line has cab signals, probable causes would be taking his time up to a red signal ahead (passengers tend to ask the conductor fewer question if the train is moving as compared to dead stopped), a track occupied light, signal trouble, a train stopped ahead, etc. On an e-mail list someone commented that this train going so slow was a disgrace to Amtrak. I would rather it go slow when it needs to than to wind up with another "Chase, MD" result.